Headlight



May 26, 1925.

E. .s. KING HEADLI GHT Fil d O t. 6, 1923 4 Sheets -Sheet 1 INVENTOR:ERA/Ear 8. Kuve m (M M/ '14 TTORNE vs.

May 26; 1925;

E. 5. KING HEADLIGHT Filed Oct. 6, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN'TORI aY 6 WW a. T in Y 3% if May 26, 1925.

E. 5. KING HEADLI GHT Filed Oct. 6, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 6 Y HQ 3 M R N 0m6 T m M A N m m M W Y 5 May 26, 1925. 1,539,090

E. 5. KING HEADLIGHT Filed Oct. 6, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Zvvzzv TOR:ERNEST 6. Knvq BY 7% Ml ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES ERNEST S. KING, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

HEADLIGHT.

Application filed October 6, 1923. Serial No. 666,924.

My invention relates to headlights, and

more particularly to headlights for use on motor vehicles. Objects ofthe invention are to prevent the shaft of light which is projected fromthe headlight from being flashed into the eyes of pedestrians oroccupants of approaching vehicles, and to intensity the light andconcentrate the raysupon the roadway so that they will be directed in alower plane, and will not diffuse upwardly, thereby aiding the driver ofthe motor vehicle.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear inconnection with the detailed description, and the novel features of myinventive idea will be particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate several different forms inwhich my invention may be embodied, Fig. 1 is a view of one form of theinvention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a view n sectionon the line 22 of Fig. 1. F g. 3 s a plan view of the lens employed nthis form of invention. Fig. 4 is a view of an other form of theinvention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is a view of anotherform of the invention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. is a viewof another form of the invention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig.7 is a VIBW. of another form of the invention in vertical longitudinalsection. Fig. 8 1s a view in perspective showing the torms illustratedin Figs. 6 and 7. ig. 9 is a. view in perspective of the lens used inthe form shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of the lensused in the forms shown in Figs. 6 7 and 8. Fig. 11 is a view in crosssection on the line 1111 of F1 6 Fig. 12 is a view in cross section on te line 12-12 of Fig. 7. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view" is a parabolicreflector 18' at the focus of which is placed a lamp 20. Securedadjacent the front of the reflector 18 is a lower mask 22, and an uppermask 24. These masks are opaque and preferably black in order not toreflect light. The lower mask 22 is in the form of a segment whichcovers nearly one-half of the opening of the reflector, while the uppermask 24 is in the form of a segment which is much smaller and coversonly a small portion of the reflector opening. The inside of the lampcasing is of a dead black color in order not to reflect light. Rays oflight emanating from the lamp 20 are reflected in parallel lines by theparabolic reflector 18, the rays reflected from substantially the lowerhalf of the reflector being intercepted by the mask 22 while the raysreflected from the extreme upper edge of the reflector are interceptedby the small mask 24. The rays which pass through the opening betweenthe mask strike the lens 16 and all of those above the axial line willbe refracted downwardly so as to strike the roadway in front of theheadlight. As shown the lower mask does not cover quite one-half of thereflector opening which fact permits the device to be pointed slightlydownwardly and still cause the upper edge of the shaft of light to behorizontal, it being understood that the rays of light cross a shortdistance in front of the lens. The provision of the straight edges 26and 28 for the masks causes the shaft of light to be cut straight at topandbottom. In the form of invention shown in Fig. 4, the masks adjacentthe front of the reflector such as just described are not employed, butthe masking is obtained by providing part of the reflector with anon-reflecting surface preferably by the use of, a black coating. Asshown, substantially the lower half of the reflector is provided with ablack coating 30 which has a straight upper edge 32, and the extremeupper portion of the reflector is provided with ablack coating 34 whichhas a straight lower edge 36. By comparing Fig. 4 with Fig. 1 it will beseen that the eflect on the rays oi light is practically the same forboth forms. In the form shown in Fig. 5, masks 22 and 24 similar tothose shown in Fig. 1 are employed, but the opening between the masks 1scovered with a piece of corrugated glass 38 such as shown in 13 whichacts to diffuse the light. The ront of the lamp casing 14 is providedwith a lens 40 such as shown in Fig. 9. This lens thins down from themiddle toward both the top and bottom and can be produced by cutting around piece from the double cylindrical lens shown in Fig. 10. In theforms thus far described, the casing 14 is cylindrical and may be usedas an attachment to the cup-shaped member of the customary automobileheadlight. In the forms now to be described, arectangular casing 14 suchas shown in Fig. 8 is provided which requires a new rear portion for theheadlight. In the form shown in Figs. 6 and-11, the front of the casingis provided with a double cylindrical lens 42 such as shown inFig. 10.Masks 22' and 24 similar to those shown in Fig. l are employed, themasks, howevcn being shaped to fit the rectangular casing. The openingbetween the masks is covered with a piece of corrogatedglass 38 similarto the piece 38 shown in Fig. 5, as being .in engagement with the rearsurfaces of the masks. In F ig. 6, the glass 38' is shown in engagementwith the front surfaces of the masks. In the form shown in Figs. 7 and12, the parabolic reflector is dispensed with and the rear curved wall44 is employed as the reflector. A lower horizontal partition 46 isplaced directly below the lam 20, and an upper horizontal partition 48is placed some distance above the lamp, and somewhat below'the upperwall of the casing. These two partitions extend forwardly for a portiononly of the casing and are supported and held at their front endsrespectively by strips 50 and 52 which in turn are supported by thecasing. Attached to the front ends of the partitions 46 and 48 andcovering the space between the same, is a piece of white semitransparentmaterial 54 which may be composed of milky glass. It will be apparentthat in all of the forms of invention described, the light reflectedfrom the lamp passes through the upper portion only of the lens and isrefracted downwardly at the same time so as to be thrown upon theroadway and'below the level of the eyes of pedestrians or occupants ofother automobiles. It will also be apparent that the shaft of lightwhich is projected from the lamp is cut straight across at top andbottom, thus producing well-defined illumination of the roadway. Aspherical lens such as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, is considered thebest form for use in connection with reflectors of the common typehaving continuous or uninterrupted surfaces, while a cylindrical lenssuch as shown in Figs. 5 to 10,

is considered best for use in connection with reflectors havinginterrupted surfaces such as are produced by providing the reflectorwith ridges.

I claim:

A headlight comprising a casing, a double convex lens in the front ofsaid casing, a parabolic reflector for the rear portion of said casing,a single source of-light in said casing located at the focus of saidreflector. a small opaque non-reflecting mask whose upper edge issubstantially in contact with the upper portion of the margin of saidrefiector whereby rays of light are prevented from passing thru theextreme upper por- ERNEST S. KING

